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Best Cheap Car Insurance in New York City
GEICO, Erie, USAA, Travelers, and NYCM offer some of the best car insurance coverage in NYC.
Best for Non-Owners
Editor's Rating:
4.9/5
4.9/5
Average Cost in New York City
- Full Coverage Monthly: $270
- Minimum Coverage Monthly: $114
Best for Full Coverage
Editor's Rating:5/5
5/5
Average Cost in New York City
- Full Coverage Monthly: $179
- Minimum Coverage Monthly: $94
Best for Military/Veterans
Editor's Rating:5/5
5/5
Average Cost in New York City
- Full Coverage Monthly: $199
- Minimum Coverage Monthly: $89
Last updated: July 21, 2026
Key Takeaways: Best Cheap Car Insurance in New York City 2026
NYC car insurance is among the most expensive in the country, but Erie and USAA offer standout value.
Full coverage in NYC averages $3,204/year; minimum coverage averages $1,542/year — well above national averages.
Erie is the cheapest option on average at $2,142/year for full coverage — 33% below the city average.
USAA is next cheapest with full coverage at $2,393/year on average, or 25% below the city average. However, it’s only available to military, veterans, and their families.
Other economical options for full coverage include Travelers at $3,056/year and GEICO at $3,241/year. If you’re seeking minimum coverage, New York Central Mutual is a great option at $925/year, or 40% below average.
Average rates offer a general sense of what a given company might quote you, but your actual premium will vary based on personal factors like your age and driving record.
Our Top Picks for the Best Cheap Auto Insurance in New York City
- Best for Non-Owners: GEICO
- Best for Full Coverage: Erie
- Best for Military/Veterans: USAA
- Highly Rated for Customer Satisfaction: Travelers
- Best Regional Provider: New York Central Mutual (NYCM)
Compare the Best Cheap Auto Insurance in New York City
| Company | Full Coverage Annual Avg. | Minimum Coverage Annual Avg. | New York Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $3,241 | $1,362 | Above average |
| Erie | $2,142 | $1,128 | Above average |
| USAA | $2,393 | $1,069 | Above average |
| Travelers | $3,056 | $1,308 | Above average |
| New York Central Mutual | Data not available | $925 | Above average |
| New York City average | $3,204 | $1,542 | – |
Breaking Down the Best Cheap Providers in New York City
1. GEICO - Best for Non-Owners
4.9
Editor's Rating:
- Average New York City Rate for Minimum Coverage
- $114 mo.
- Average New York City Rate for Full Coverage
- $270 mo.
Non-owner liability coverage available- Wide range of discounts
- Affordable rates for drivers with low credit
Limited agent presence- Doesn't underwrite home insurance
Why we chose it
If you don’t own a car, but instead rent or borrow cars like many New Yorkers, it’s a good idea to purchase non-owner coverage. GEICO is a great option for non-owner policies, which include bodily injury and property damage liability coverage and personal injury protection (other coverages, like collision and comprehensive are not available).
Non-owner policies are significantly cheaper than traditional policies. They also allow you to maintain a history of insurance coverage, so if you do buy a car in the future, your insurance premiums will be less expensive.
GEICO also offers competitive rates (including for drivers with low credit), plus ample discounts that can further lower premiums: multi-policy, multi-car, safe driver, and more. It has a seamless digital experience with easy online quotes and policy management — though non-owner policies are not available online, so you’ll have to call GEICO directly to inquire about this.
TIP:
If you frequently borrow a car from the same person (e.g. the family you nanny for or a partner), a non-owner’s policy may not make sense. In that case, it’s usually better for the primary policyholder to add you as a named driver to their policy.
Who it’s best for
Drivers looking for non-owner insurance, customers on a budget, drivers with poor credit, people who want to self-serve their policies online
GEICO New York City Pricing
| GEICO | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $270 | $114 |
| Annually | $3,241 | $1,362 |
| Difference from NYC average | +1% | -12% |
2. Erie - Best for Full Coverage
5
Editor's Rating:
- Average New York City Rate for Minimum Coverage
- $94 mo.
- Average New York City Rate for Full Coverage
- $179 mo.
- Full coverage rates that are cheaper than average
- Rate lock option to prevent premium increases
- Exceptional customer satisfaction scores
- Agent-only
- Fewer online features
Why we chose it
Erie offers some of the cheapest full coverage rates in New York City — not to mention a large suite of discounts to further lower premiums, including bundling auto with home or renters insurance. With Erie, you also have the option of adding a Rate Lock endorsement (called ERIE RateProtect in New York) that will guard against price increases by freezing your rate for a few policy terms.
The provider does have a limited digital experience for managing policies online, but its reliance on agents for personalized service is likely the reason for its high customer satisfaction ratings. Most notably, Erie recently ranked first in J.D. Power’s 2026 Claims Satisfaction Study and earned an A- rating from the CRASH Network Report Card.
Who it’s best for
Drivers who want to bundle auto with home or renters insurance, those who want to lock in their rate, customers prioritizing great customer satisfaction and claims processing
Erie New York City Pricing
| Erie | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $179 | $94 |
| Annually | $2,142 | $1,128 |
| Difference from NYC average | -33% | -27% |
3. USAA - Best for Military/Veterans
5
Editor's Rating:
- Average New York City Rate for Minimum Coverage
- $89 mo.
- Average New York City Rate for Full Coverage
- $199 mo.
- Military-focused coverage options
- Ample discounts (including a telematics program)
- Excellent customer satisfaction ratings
- Military eligibility required
- Limited to members
- Fewer branch locations
Why we chose it
USAA is known for providing military-centric coverage to its members, who comprise active military, veterans, and family (spouses and children). With that exclusive membership comes ample perks, like some of the lowest average rates for NYC drivers, numerous discount opportunities, and access to valuable add-ons like gap insurance.
In addition, USAA has two telematics programs with which drivers can further save. SafePilot rewards safe driving, while SafePilot Miles primarily rewards driving less than average but also tracks safe driving. It’s therefore unsurprising that USAA is ranked highly by J.D. Power and more in various third-party customer satisfaction metrics.
Who it’s best for
People who qualify for membership (active military, veterans, and family members), drivers who prioritize great customer satisfaction, drivers seeking a telematics discount
USAA New York City Pricing
| USAA | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $199 | $89 |
| Annually | $2,393 | $1,069 |
| Difference from NYC average | -25% | +31% |
4. Travelers - Highly Rated for Customer Satisfaction
4.1
Editor's Rating:
- Average New York City Rate for Minimum Coverage
- $109 mo.
- Average New York City Rate for Full Coverage
- $255 mo.
- Higher-than-average customer satisfaction ratings
- Affordable full coverage rates in NYC
- Robust variety of add-on coverages
- Average satisfaction scores
- Limited agent density in some regions
Why we chose it
Travelers took top place in New York state in J.D. Power’s 2026 Auto Insurance Study. It also has cheaper-than-average full coverage rates in NYC, on top of a number of discounts that can further lower premiums. A few notable discounts include those for driving safely, bundling policies, being continuously insured, owning a home, and having an electric car.
On top of standard coverages, Travelers offers a wide range of add-ons, including gap coverage, new car replacement, and accident forgiveness. It also sells non-owner insurance.
Who it’s best for
NYC drivers prioritizing customer satisfaction, drivers seeking competitive rates and discount opportunities, customers looking for a wide range of coverage options
Travelers New York City Pricing
| Travelers | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $255 | $109 |
| Annually | $3,056 | $1,308 |
| Difference from NYC average | -5% | -15% |
5. New York Central Mutual (NYCM) - Best Regional Provider
- Above-average customer service ratings
- Personalized service through local agents
- Offers add-on coverages tailored to new car owners
- Limited footprint
- Agent-only
- Modest mobile tools
Why we chose it
As a regional provider operating exclusively in New York State, NYCM offers competitive rates for NYC drivers, and its average minimum coverage rate of $925 per year is 40 percent below the city average. In addition to standard coverages, NYCM offers original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage, new car replacement, and a new car discount on collision coverage, making it a great choice for new car owners.
NYCM is best for customers who enjoy personalized service through its network of local agents (as opposed to the online self-service approach often offered by major insurers). The company received an above-average customer satisfaction score for New York State in J.D. Power’s 2026 Auto Insurance Study.
Who it’s best for
NYC drivers seeking competitive rates, customers prioritizing special add-ons like OEM coverage and new car replacement, drivers who want to work with a local agent
NYCM New York City Pricing
| New York Central Mutual | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | Data not available | $77 |
| Annually | Data not available | $925 |
| Difference from NYC average | Data not available | -40% |
New York City Best Cheap Picks — Detailed Customer Satisfaction Summary
| Company | J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study – New York1 | CRASH Network Report Card2
| J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction3
| NAIC Complaint Index |
|
| GEICO | 654 | C- | 697 | 2.70 |
| New York Central Mutual | 641 | Not rated | Not rated | 0.30 |
| Travelers | 657 | C | 691 | 0.41 |
| Erie | 652 | A- | 743 | 1.61 |
| USAA | 712 | C- | 741 | 3.01 |
| Average | 636 (out of 1,000) | C+ | 700 (out of 1,000) | 1 |
| What the study measures | Customer satisfaction regionally, based on responses from over 52,000 customers | Claims handling and payment practices, based on an annual survey of collision repair shops | Satisfaction with the claims process, based on responses from nearly 10,000 customers who recently filed a claim | Consumer complaints relative to market share. The lower the score, the better |
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in New York City
Erie offers the cheapest average full coverage rates in New York City at $2,142 per year ($179 per month), which is almost $1,100 per year lower than the city average. USAA (military-only membership) and Nationwide also have competitive rates at $2,393 per year and $2,610 per year, respectively.
| Company | Annual New York City Average | Monthly New York City Average |
|---|---|---|
| Erie | $2,142 | $179 |
| USAA | $2,393 | $199 |
| Nationwide | $2,610 | $218 |
| Progressive | $2,675 | $223 |
| Travelers | $3,056 | $255 |
| GEICO | $3,241 | $270 |
| State Farm | $3,259 | $272 |
| Allstate | $3,378 | $282 |
| Chubb | $4,353 | $363 |
| New York City average | $3,204 | $267 |
| New York State average | $2,882 | $240 |
| U.S. average | $2,356 | $196 |
Cheapest Minimum Coverage Car Insurance in New York City
For minimum coverage in NYC, New York Central Mutual (NYCM) has the cheapest rates at $925 per year ($77 per month) on average. That’s over $600 per year cheaper than the city average. That said, all of the insurers we highlight below have cheaper-than-average rates, with USAA and Erie also offering competitive average rates after NYCM.
| Company | Annual New York City Average | Monthly New York City Average |
|---|---|---|
| New York Central Mutual | $925 | $77 |
| USAA | $1,069 | $89 |
| Erie | $1,128 | $94 |
| Travelers | $1,308 | $109 |
| Nationwide | $1,338 | $112 |
| GEICO | $1,362 | $114 |
| Progressive | $1,541 | $128 |
| New York City average | $1,542 | $129 |
| New York State average | $1,249 | $104 |
| U.S. average | $722 | $60 |
How Many Car Accidents Happen in New York City?
In 2025, there were a total of 85,743 car accidents in New York City, according to NYPD data.6 Over 200 people were killed as a result of car accidents, including 80 motorists, 118 pedestrians, and 23 cyclists, and nearly 50,000 people were injured. The borough with the most car accidents was Brooklyn, followed by Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
Car crashes in New York City impact everyone, creating shared risks for multiple groups on city streets.
Frequently Asked Questions
For full coverage, Erie has the cheapest average rates in NYC at $2,142 annually ($179 monthly). That’s about $1,100 per year cheaper than the NYC average. Meanwhile, for minimum coverage, New York Central Mutual (NYCM) has the cheapest average rates at $925 annually ($77 monthly) on average, or over $600 per year under the NYC average.
In New York City, NYCM has lower average rates for minimum coverage than GEICO. NYCM’s average premium is $925 per year, compared to $1,362 per year for GEICO.
Historically, NYCM has also offered cheaper full coverage rates than GEICO for NYC. We don’t have current pricing data available for NYCM here, but GEICO’s full coverage premium is $3,241 per year on average, which is almost the same as the NYC average of $3,204.
Car insurance in NYC costs an average of $3,204 per year for full coverage for safe drivers in their 30s with good credit. Minimum coverage costs an average of $1,542 annually. If you fit this demographic, you can expect to pay around that much, but you may be quoted more or less depending on various factors. If you have violations on your record, low credit, or are a young driver, you may pay much more.
The best way to lower your car insurance rates is to focus on driving safely. Safe drivers are quoted the best rates, on average. Always ask your insurer about discounts you may be eligible for, such as those for bundling, having a safe car, or being a good student. If you have low credit, working to improve it over time can result in significant savings.
Methodology
At AutoInsurance.com, we evaluate auto insurance providers based on four key factors:
- Price (40%): We analyzed average full and minimum coverage premiums for safe drivers with good credit in New York City. Full coverage averages use the following limits:
-
- Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $100,000 per accident
- Personal injury protection: State-required minimum
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
- Claims handling (25%): Customers expect their insurers to handle claims quickly and fairly. We assess insurance companies’ claims practices through sources like the CRASH Network Insurer Report Card and J.D. Power’s Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, and financial strength from sources like AM Best.
- Customer experience (25%): We assess various aspects of the customer experience, including the process of getting a quote and purchasing coverage. We also look at the availability and quality of online and agent support, as well as the website and mobile app user experience. Our analysis uses insights from J.D. Power, the NAIC Complaint Index, BBB ratings, and app store reviews.
- Coverage options (10%): We consider each company’s coverage options and prioritize those with offerings beyond the state-required minimums, like new car replacement, gap coverage, non-owners coverage, and more.
Read more about our ratings and methodology.
Sources
2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. J.D. Power. (2026, Jun 9). https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2026-us-auto-insurance-study
Trust Emerges as Top Driver of Customer Satisfaction with Auto Insurance as Prices Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2024, June 11).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-insurance-studyTop Rated U.S. Car Insurance Companies for 2026. Crash Network. (2026).
https://www.crashnetwork.com/irc/Satisfaction with Auto Insurance Claims Strained by Higher Deductibles, More Total Losses, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2025, Oct 28).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2025-us-auto-claims-satisfaction-studyConsumer Insurance Search Results. NAIC. (2026).
https://content.naic.org/cis_refined_results.htmMotor Vehicle Collisions – Crashes. NYC OpenData. (2026, Feb 02).
https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Public-Safety/Motor-Vehicle-Collisions-Crashes/h9gi-nx95/about_data
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